TORONTO, April 27, 2018 /CNW/ - Throughout Toronto every May, CONTACT presents lens-based works by acclaimed and emerging artists, documentary photographers, and photojournalists from Canada and around the world. The curated program of Primary Exhibitions (collaborations with major museums, galleries and artist-run centres), and Public Installations (site-specific public art projects), are a central focus of the Festival. These are cultivated through partnerships, commissions and new discoveries, framing the cultural, social and political events of our times.  The Featured and Open Exhibitions present a range of works by local and international artists at leading galleries and alternative spaces across the city. The Festival also includes a wide range of Events including a book fair, lectures, talks, panels, workshops, and symposiums.

"As the Festival continues to expand its scope, with new exhibition sites and public art commissions," says Darcy Killeen, executive director of CONTACT, "an array of exceptional lens-based work is presented throughout Toronto. The success of the Festival is due to the excellent curatorial work across all institutions and to all the participating artists – from leading practitioners to emerging talent."

Bonnie Rubenstein, Artistic Director of CONTACT says, "we are elated to have the work of Canadian and international artists such as Richard Mosse, Felicity Hammond, Dana Claxton, Sofia Mesa, Charlie Engman, Awol Erizku, John Edmonds, Caroline Monnet, Shelley Niro, Scott Benesiinaabandan, Piero Martinello, Trevor Paglen, Sophia Al Maria, Laurie Kang, Aida Muluneh, Wang Yishu and Marleen Sleeuwits."

The inaugural CONTACT Photobook Fair at Stephen Bulger Gallery on May 6, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., brings together more than 20 independent publishers and leading contemporary photographers to present newly released publications. "This event was conceived with the desire to create a space for practitioners and book enthusiasts to build connections, discover new projects, and exchange ideas on books and photography," says Tara Smith, Program Director at CONTACT. 

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival
CONTACT fosters and celebrates the art and profession of photography with an annual Festival in May and year-round programming in the CONTACT Gallery.

CONTACT, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1997, is generously supported by Scotiabank, Scotia Wealth Management, Nikon Canada, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso, Vistek, Dentons Canada LLP, Toronto Image Works, The Gilder, Transcontinental PLM, 3M Canada, BIG Digital, Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Four By Eight Signs, Beyond Digital Imaging, Steam Whistle Brewing, Art Toronto, The Gladstone Hotel, First Gulf, Colliers International, The Globe and Mail, NOW Magazine, CBC Toronto, and Canadian Art.

CONTACT gratefully acknowledges the support of Celebrate Ontario, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Ontario Arts Council, The Government of Ontario, Partners in Art, Canada Council for the Arts, Consulate General of the United States, the Howard Webster Foundation, Mondriaan Fund, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Goethe-Institut, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, and all of our funders, donors, and programming partners.

SOURCE Scotiabank